Ahead of FruitPunchLoverBoy’s performance at First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2019 in the First Avenue Mainroom on Saturday, January 25, we got to him a few questions. Read what he had to say below:
Julia Dunnwald: As someone who has changed their stage name before, can you talk about the importance of an artist’s name and what it really represents for their image?
FruitPunchLoverBoy: I think it’s super important to have a name that you really believe in. I think this name stuck because I changed it at the right time, I had just started to step outside more & started meeting people who not only made the name feel good on me but just brought me up as a person. Some might get thrown off by a name till they hear what’s behind it, forget about the ego and make what makes u excited.
JD: Can you describe what it means to you to be nominated as one of the best new MN artists of 2019?
FPLB: It feels really good, there’s so much amazing talent in this state I look up to everyone. I think it’s important to be thankful for opportunities like this because it means someone felt the music enough to put us in this position. It’s gonna be a really cool way to kick off 2020.
JD: Clearly, 2019 was a big year for you. Have you experienced any “growing pains” with this success? Is there a challenge you’re particularly proud to have overcome?
FPLB: 2019 felt like 3 years hahaha, but not due to any “growing pains.” I think everybody is growing, conquering personal battles as they move forward, but when my friends and I are making music or just hanging out it’s like the battles get paused and we put all of the energy into the space we’re in. I’m just proud I found so many great people to surround myself with. Also, we’ve been making an album I’m proud of that too.
JD: If you were to make music in any other genre, which would you choose and why?
FPLB: I think it would be really fun to dive deep into electronic & house music. I enjoy the bounce.
JD: What is your #1 guilty pleasure song?
FPLB: I don’t really have a guilty pleasure song there’s probably some old songs downloaded on my iTunes from like 2010 that would be embarrassing to play out loud but other than that I’m owning it.
